The holiday season is all about cheer, good food and of course gifts. However, police are warning you to to pay close attention while you do your holiday shopping.
Tucson police say car break-ins are on the rise during the holidays and can happen anywhere and to anyone, especially while holiday shopping.
Car break-ins are on the rise in Tucson! The problem will only get worse while people do their holiday shopping. We have some tips to make sure you’re not a victim @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/r38SdwiSw4
— Carlos Herrera (@KGUNCarlos) December 1, 2017
Some of the reasons are because of the large numbers of people shopping around town. Theft from vehicles are crimes of opportunity. That means, thieves are more likely to break into your car when they see or believe something of value is inside that can be easily taken.
Police have some simple tips that people can use to make sure they're not a victim of this crime:
- Parking in well-lit areas.
- Locking your vehicle and rolling up windows.
- Not leaving anything of value inside your vehicle while it is unattended.
- If you do have to leave something in your car, place it somewhere out of view like the trunk.
- Reduce the amount of clutter in your vehicle.
According to Sergeant Pete Dugan with the Tucson Police Department, officers are increasing patrols in areas around shopping malls.
The department is also releasing a public service announcement Friday afternoon offering more safety tips. The goal is to raise awareness.
Meanwhile, car break-ins aren't the only crimes you should worry about. As the holiday shopping season approaches, many of us are eyeing deals, but beware, thievery may be eyeing you.
Police have a couple of tips to prevent this from happening to you:
- Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
- Pick-pocketing from purses is very common. They suggest women to wear a purse with a strap going across their chest rather than on their shoulder.
- It's best for men to keep their wallet in the front pocket.
- Don't use cash, but instead credit cards such as pre-paid or gift cards.
- Park as close to the entrance as you can.
- If you have a bunch of shopping bags have your keys ready in your hand when walking back to your car.
- Be sure to ask if there's security inside the facility to help avoid theft from happening.
- Avoid distractions such as cell phones/earphones that may take away from your situational awareness.
If you see something suspicious, call 911 and/or report it to security if they are on-site.
